Dementia Home Care: What You Need To Know
Dementia Home Care: What You Need To Know
So what do you do if one of your loved ones has been diagnosed with dementia or Alzheimer’s? The diagnosis is not just hard on the person but it affects everybody around the person – family and friends. Living with a person who has been affected by dementia can be difficult and taxing, and at times you might find yourself at loss for what to do and how to help. Dementia home care can be difficult: at times you might wonder whether the things that you are doing are wrong but you have no way of knowing whether they actually are because you are learning on the spot and adapting to the needs of the person that you are taking care of.
It is normal to have moments of doubt and feel like you need social support in order to manage living with somebody who has been diagnosed with dementia. It is also normal to feel guilty for having doubts. Don’t forget – you are not alone in this and there are many others who experience the same sort of feelings on a daily basis. Seek support and help and ask any questions that you need!
Simple Tips And Guidelines For Dementia Home Care:
- Do not lose your sense of humor. People with dementia do not lose their social skills and will have a good time laughing with you. Do not ever use humor at the cost of the person!
- Reminisce about days past: A lot of people with dementia can actually recall events that happened a long time ago in great detail. It’s the situations that happened recently that they have problems with but they will have a great joy at sharing all of their adventures with you.
- Ask questions that are simple to answer. Don’t get too much into detail. Keep it short and sweet with a choice or a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ question. Something along the lines of, ‘would you like to have to have spaghetti and meatballs tonight or chicken and rice?’ instead of ‘what would you like to have for dinner tonight?’ It would be even better if you pulled out that chicken and rice, and that spaghetti. By seeing the objects in question, people with dementia will have an easier time making a decision.
- Give them your attention and be kind. People with dementia will get confused about their environment and about themselves. You are there to guide and direct them to a place of understanding. Don’t tell them they are wrong about things, instead focus on their emotions and feelings and help them out in their moment of need.
- Be positive! The most important one out of all the tips and guidelines. Always come in with a smile, with an attitude that radiates happiness. We are social beings and we can sense when somebody is upset or down. People with dementia do not lose that ability. They will be happy to see you happy and they will know if you are sad. Remember, a smile and a kind word goes a long way. Be open with your emotions but stay positive no matter how hard it gets. Dementia home care will get difficult and a struggle at times, but always remember that you are not alone! So stay positive and ask for help if you ever need it!
Dementia Home Care: What You Need To Know
Valerie is a psychology student who is trying to pursue a career in Cognitive Neuroscience. She is passionate about the brain and finds it fascinating. She loves learning about new discoveries and research that is going on in the world of psychology and neuroscience. One day she hopes to contribute to the scientific community!
